The ABA response really is in line with all that Kerreen Reiger said in her book Our Bodies, Our Babies The Forgotten Women's MovementI highly recommend this book especially in light of the current political climate. She write about how the ABA made decisions to remain apolitical. So it is disappointing that they remain in the same place and will not support a movement that is obviously pro-breastfeed!! Sheesh!!! She also write about how the homebirth movement deconstructed.
Really worth a read.
Sally Westbury
HI Sally......
its great to talk with you across the airwaves!! I too have Kerreen's Book 'Our Bodies our Babies" and yes its a fantastic book to bring us polically active 'newbees'...up to speed with what has come before and a valuable insight to the context of the political struggle for birth reform....with regards to the ABA.....I love Kerreen's comments and review of the NMAA (as it was then). Re; the ABA....Kerreen commentates on the views of Maureen Minchin and her experiecnces with NMAA...Kerreen writes....
...."Influential internationally, including as a consultatnt to the World Health Organisation, she [Minchin] was a forceful critic of the NMAA's approach to health professsionals which seemed both overly cautious, even obsequious, but on the other, quite patronising because they tended to see themselves as the true experts......" (Reiger 2001 p132).
"..1. How well educated in the art of breastfeeding are the midwives? Will there be consistency of care and information?
2. What commitment to breastfeeding does this body have?
3. Are there any WHO Code issues involved?
4. ABA probably doesn't have a 'place' entering a political sphere primarily between midwives and obstetricians.
There are big questions here that would need considerable discussion and the board feels that at this time they cannot justify the time and energy to pursue this cause."
Sounds familiar ha??
with love TinaXX
